DRAFT FOR DISCUSSION PURPOSES ONLY
Table of Water Quality/Quantity Parameters Monitored to Date
Miller and WalkerCreeks
May 14, 2009
Parameter / MillerCreek / Walker
Creek / Where monitored / When monitored / Continuous or grab sample / Who / Name of report if applicable / Notes
Quantity
Flow / X / X / Miller at S.W. 175th Pl. (gage 42a)
Miller Creek Detention Facility (gage 42b)
Miller at SR509/Port boundary aboveDes Moines Memorial Drive (gage 42j)
Miller at LakeReba
Walker at 13th Ave. S.W. (gage 42e)
Walker below SR509 (gage 42k) / 1988 – present
1989-present
2006-present
2006-present
1992-1996; 2000-present
2006-present / Continuous / King County (funded by Port of Seattle) for all except Miller at LakeReba (Taylor Associates)
Biological
Acute and sublethal toxicity sampling / Port of Seattle
Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity (B-IBI) / X / Miller: one location south of S. 160th St. / 2003-2006 / N/A / Port of Seattle / 2006 Low Flow Biological Monitoring Data Report for Miller, Des Moines, and WalkerCreeks (2007) / Walker BIBI was not conducted as the habitat east of SR 509 is not suitable
Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity (B-IBI) / X / Miller: above SR518
Miller: below S. 156th St.
Miller: near 8th Ave. S. / 2004-2006 / N/A / Port of Seattle / Comprehensive Receiving Water Study (2008)
Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity (B-IBI) / X / X / Miller: south of S.W. 175th Pl.and at confluence with Walker (Normandy Park Community Club)
Walker: south of 13th Ave. S.W. (Normandy Park Swim Club) / Miller: 2005, 2006
Walker: 2008 / N/A / Andy Batcho, Tony Cassarino, and Jim Pitts
Fish use / X / X / Miller: one location south of 160th / 2003-2006 / Electrofishing and video / Port of Seattle / 2006 Low Flow Biological Monitoring Data Report for Miller, Des Moines, and WalkerCreeks (2007) / WalkerCreek location had no fish use due to unsuitable habitat (small size and depth)
Fish use / X / X / Mouth to upper limits of potential fish use / May 2003 / Electrofishing / Wild Fish Conservancy (formerly Washington Trout) / On-line
Physical habitat features / X / X / Miller: one location south of 160th
Walker: one location east of SR509 / 2003-2006 / N/A / Port of Seattle / 2006 Low Flow Biological Monitoring Data Report for Miller, Des Moines, and WalkerCreeks (2007) / Includes pool-riffle, bank condition, wood structure/ frequency info
Physical habitat features using U.S. Forest Service methodology / X / Miller from S.W. 175th Pl. to the mouth / 1993 and 2008 / N/A / Trout Unlimited / Data available in spreadsheets; contact is Andy Batcho / Includes riffle-to-pool ratio, pool quality index (width of pool, depth of pool, amount of overhanging vegetation), large woody debris, substrate type, habitat 100 feeton either side of the stream,habitattypes including riffles, runs, pools, andglides, and channel width and depth
Conventional
Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) / X / Outfall to LakeReba (SDN1, SDN2, SDN3, SDN4) / 1994 - present / Grab and/or flow-weighted composite / Port of Seattle / Monthly discharge monitoring reports / During 2002-2006, about 25 samples per year
Chemical oxygen demand (COD) / X / Outfall to LakeReba (SDN1, SDN2, SDN3, SDN4) / ??? / ??? / Port of Seattle / ??? / BOD can be used as an indicator for COD if a high correlation is proven
Dissolved oxygen, pH , temperature – water, conductivity / X / Miller above LakeReba
Miller below LakeReba
LakeReba / 2005-2007 / Grab and continuous monitoring / Port of Seattle / Comprehensive Receiving Water Study (2008) / NEED TO CONFIRM THIS IS NOT DUPLICATIVE OF LISTING BELOW
BOD, COD, dissolved oxygen, TSS, hardness, temperature –water, pH, total and dissolved copper, total and dissolved lead, total and dissolved zinc, diesel, motor oil / X / Miller above LakeReba
Miller below LakeReba
LakeReba / 2005-2007 / Grab (first flush) and event mean concentration (storm event composite samples) / Port of Seattle / Comprehensive Receiving Water Study (2008) / Samples taken during storm events on monthly basis when conditions allowed (year-round event-based sampling)
Dissolved oxygen, hardness, temperature –water, turbidity, pH, phosphorous, nitrate, CO2, silica / X / X / Miller at SR 509/Des Moines Memorial Drive
Miller at First Ave. S.
Miller at Kludt house (S.W. 175th Pl.)
Miller at The Cove
Walker at Ambaum Blvd.
Walker at The Cove / November 2004 – August 2005 / Grab - monthly / City of NormandyPark (RCAA) / Data in spreadsheet / See December 5, 2005 memo from Greg Wingard commenting on this sampling approach
Dissolved oxygen (DO) / X / Miller at S.W. 175th Pl. / 2004, 2006 / Grab - monthly / WA Dept. of Ecology / On line
Ammonia-Nitrogen (NH3_N) / X / Miller at S.W. 175th Pl. / 2004, 2006 / Grab - monthly / WA Dept. of Ecology / On line
Dissolved oxygen / X / X / Miller at S.W. 175th Pl. (gage 42a)
Miller at LakeReba (Miller Creek Detention Facility) (gage 42b)
Miller at SR509/Port boundary above Des Moines Memorial Drive (gage 42j)
Walker at 13th Ave. S.W. (gage 42e)
Walker below SR509 (gage 42k) / 2000-present
(except gages 42j and 42k: 2006-present) / Grab, 8-10 times per year when flow data are retrieved / KingCounty / On line / Collection has been inconsistent; data are missing for months at a time
Dissolved oxygen / X / Miller at Southwest Suburban Sewer District plant / 2004-present / Grab, weekly / Southwest Suburban Sewer District / Data in spreadsheet
Conductivity / X / Miller at S.W. 175th Pl. / 2004, 2006 / Grab - monthly / WA Dept. of Ecology / On line
Conductivity / X / X / Miller at S.W. 175th Pl. (gage 42a)
Miller at LakeReba (Miller Creek Detention Facility) (gage 42b)
Miller at SR509/Port boundary above Des Moines Memorial Drive (gage 42j)
Walker at 13th Ave. S.W. (gage 42e)
Walker below SR509 (gage 42k) / 2000-present
(except gages 42j and 42k: 2006-present) / Grab, 8-10 times per year when flow data are retrieved / KingCounty / On line / Collection has been inconsistent; data are missing for months at a time
Fecal coliform / X / Miller at S.W. 175th Pl. / 2004, 2006 / Grab - monthly / WA Dept. of Ecology / On line / Standard exceeded three times in 2006; four times in 2004
Fecal coliform / X / Miller at Southwest Suburban Sewer District plant / 2004-present / Grab, weekly / Southwest Suburban Sewer District / Data in spreadsheet
Nitrate+Nitrite-Nitrogen (NO2-NO3) / X / Miller at S.W. 175th Pl. / 2004, 2006 / Grab - monthly / WA Dept. of Ecology / On line
Nitrogen, total persulf (TPN) / X / Miller at S.W. 175th Pl. / 2004, 2006 / Grab - monthly / WA Dept. of Ecology / On line
pH / X / Outfall to LakeReba (SDN1, SDN2, SDN3, SDN4) / 1994 - present / Grab and/or flow-weighted composite / Port of Seattle / Monthly discharge monitoring reports / During 2002-2006, about 25 samples per year
pH / X / Miller at S.W. 175th Pl. / 2004, 2006 / Grab - monthly / WA Dept. of Ecology / On line / Standard exceeded one time in 2006
pH / X / Miller at Southwest Suburban Sewer District plant / 2004-present / Grab, weekly / Southwest Suburban Sewer District / Data in spreadsheet
Phosphorous, total (TP_P_ICP) / X / Miller at S.W. 175th Pl. / 2004, 2006 / Grab - monthly / WA Dept. of Ecology / On line
Phosphorous, Sol Reactive (OP_DIS) / X / Miller at S.W. 175th Pl. / 2004, 2006 / Grab - monthly / WA Dept. of Ecology / On line
Rain gage / n/a / n/a / LakeReba / 1990-present / Continuous / ?
Suspended solids (SUSSOL) / X / Miller at S.W. 175th Pl. / 2004, 2006 / Grab - monthly / WA Dept. of Ecology / On line
Temperature, air / X / X / Miller at S.W. 175th Pl. (gage 42a)
Miller at LakeReba (Miller Creek Detention Facility) (gage 42b)
Walker at 13th Ave. S.W. (gage 42e) / 2000-present / Grab, during data collection / KingCounty / On line / Collection has been inconsistent; data are missing for months at a time
Temperature, water / X / Miller at Southwest Suburban Sewer District plant / 2004-present / Grab, weekly / Southwest Suburban Sewer District / Data in spreadsheet
Temperature, water / X / Miller at S.W. 175th Pl. / 2004, 2006 / Continuous (also grab – monthly) / WA Dept. of Ecology / On line
Temperature, water / X / X / Miller at S.W. 175th Pl. (gage 42a)
Walker at 13th Ave. S.W. (gage 42e) / 2000-present / Continuous / KingCounty / On line
Temperature –water, turbidity / X / X / Miller at SR 509/Des Moines Memorial Drive
Miller at First Ave. S.
Miller at Kludt house (S.W. 175th Pl.)
Miller at The Cove
Walker at Ambaum
Walker at The Cove / November 2004 – November 2005 / Grab - monthly / City of NormandyPark (RCAA) / Data in spreadsheet
Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH) / X / Outfall to LakeReba (SDN1, SDN2, SDN3, SDN4) / 1994 - present / Grab and/or flow-weighted composite / Port of Seattle / Monthly discharge monitoring reports / During 2002-2006, about 25 samples per year
Total Suspended Solids (TSS) / X / Outfall to LakeReba (SDN1, SDN2, SDN3, SDN4) / 1994 - present / Grab and/or flow-weighted composite / Port of Seattle / Monthly discharge monitoring reports / During 2002-2006, about 25 samples per year
Turbidity / X / Miller at S.W. 175th Pl. / 2004, 2006 / Grab - monthly / WA Dept. of Ecology / On line
Turbidity / X / Outfall to LakeReba (SDN1, SDN2, SDN3, SDN4) / 1994 - present / Grab and/or flow-weighted composite / Port of Seattle / Monthly discharge monitoring reports / During 2002-2006, about 25 samples per year
Metals
Hardness / X / Outfall to LakeReba (SDN1, SDN2, SDN3, SDN4) / 1994 –present / Grab and/or flow-weighted composite / Port of Seattle / Monthly discharge monitoring reports / During 2002-2006, about 25 samples per year
Hardness / X / Miller at S.W. 175th Pl. / 2004, 2006 / Grab – bi-monthly / WA Dept. of Ecology / On line
Copper, total recoverable / X / Miller at S.W. 175th Pl. / 2004, 2006 / Grab – bi-monthly / WA Dept. of Ecology / On line
Copper, dissolved / X / Miller at S.W. 175th Pl. / 2004, 2006 / Grab – bi-monthly / WA Dept. of Ecology / On line
Copper (Cu) / X / Outfall to LakeReba (SDN1, SDN2, SDN3, SDN4) / 1994 - present / Grab and/or flow-weighted composite / Port of Seattle / Monthly discharge monitoring reports / During 2002-2006, about 25 samples per year
Lead (Pb) / X / Outfall to LakeReba (SDN1, SDN2, SDN3, SDN4) / 1994 - present / Grab and/or flow-weighted composite / Port of Seattle / Monthly discharge monitoring reports / During 2002-2006, about 25 samples per year
Lead, total recoverable / X / Miller at S.W. 175th Pl. / 2004, 2006 / Grab – bi-monthly / WA Dept. of Ecology / On line
Lead, dissolved / X / Miller at S.W. 175th Pl. / 2004, 2006 / Grab – bi-monthly / WA Dept. of Ecology / On line
Zinc (Zn) / X / Outfall to LakeReba (SDN1, SDN2, SDN3, SDN4) / 1994 - present / Grab and/or flow-weighted composite / Port of Seattle / Monthly discharge monitoring reports / During 2002-2006, about 25 samples per year
Zinc, total recoverable / X / Miller at S.W. 175th Pl. / 2004, 2006 / Grab – bi-monthly / WA Dept. of Ecology / On line
Zinc, dissolved / X / Miller at S.W. 175th Pl. / 2004, 2006 / Grab – bi-monthly / WA Dept. of Ecology / On line
Priority pollutants / X / Outfall to LakeReba (SDN1, SDN2, SDN3, SDN4) / ~1998 - present / Grab and/or flowweighted composite / Port of Seattle / On line / 1 to 2 times every 5 years
Other data collected/monitoring
Department of Ecology in 2004 and 2006 sampled for the following metals at Miller Creek at S.W. 175th St.: silver, dissolved; silver, total recoverable; arsenic, dissolved; arsenic, total recoverable; cadmium, total recoverable; cadmium, dissolved; chromium, total recoverable; chromium, dissolved; mercury, total; nickel, total recoverable; nickel, dissolved
Lake monitoring includes monitoring:
- LakeReba during 2005-2007 as part of the Comprehensive Receiving Water and Stormwater Runoff Study, 2008. Parameters studied included temperature, DO, conductivity, pH, turbidity, TSS, aquatic macrophytes, and elevation
- LakeBurien by volunteers in 1994, 1998, and 2000-2004 included phosphorous, nitrogen, chlorophyll, and temperature (
Reports with relevant information
- Department of Ecology sampling results for 2004 and 2006 available on-line at: had substantial exceedances for FC and one for pH; Water Quality Index is 26 (poor)
- Wild Fish Conservancy (formerly Washington Trout) stream typing survey, encompassing stream parameters, habitat conditions, and fish presence May 2003 available on-line at:
- Annual Stormwater Monitoring ReportSeattle-TacomaInternationalAirport for the Period July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007, Port of Seattle, October 1, 2007
- Sublethal Toxicity Testing of Ambient Samples Downstream of Stormwater Outfalls near the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (2004 to 2007), prepared by Nautilus Environmental for Port of Seattle, February 1, 2008
- Acute Toxicity Testing of Stormwater Samples from the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, prepared by Nautilus Environmental for Port of Seattle, January 28, 2008
- 2006 Low Flow Biological Monitoring Data Report for Miller, Des Moines, and Walker Creeks, prepared by Parametrix for Port of Seattle, April 2007
- 2006-2007 Construction Stormwater Annual Report, Port of Seattle, October 1, 2007
- Comprehensive Receiving Water and Stormwater Runoff Study, prepared by CH2M Hill for Port of Seattle, April 2008
- Comprehensive Receiving Water and Stormwater Runoff Study – Effects of Airport Ground Surface Deicing Biochemical Oxygen Demand on Receiving Water Dissolved Oxygen, prepared by Taylor Associates, Inc. for Port of Seattle, April 2008
- Derivation of Site-Specific Water Quality Objectives and Effluent Limits for Copper inStormwater, prepared by Nautilus Environmental for Port of Seattle, April 2008
- Derivation of Site-Specific Water Quality Objectives and Preliminary Effluent Limits forZinc in Stormwater, prepared by Nautilus Environmental for Port of Seattle, April 2008
- Seattle-TacomaInternationalAirport Phase I Groundwater Study Report, Draft February 15, 2005
Other reports with possibly relevant information and summaries of selected data also included in table above (excerpted from Miller and Walker Creek Basin Plan – Executive Proposed: Appendix F)
Summary Report of Preliminary Data Collected for the Site- Specific Water Quality Assessment (SSA) Study.
Seattle-TacomaInternationalAirport, June 2002
In-stream concentrations of dissolved Zinc (Zn) and Copper (Cu) were measured at various locations in Miller and WalkerCreeks.
Up to four baseflow samples and up to five stormflow samples were analyzed at each sampling location.
Miller Creek sampling locations included:
1. outfall from Lake Reba Stormwater Facility;
2. below the mixing zone from the Lake Reba Stormwater Facility outfall;
3. Miller Creek at 8th Street (below current & future drainages to Miller Creek); and
4. upstream of Lake Reba Stormwater Facility (background to airport discharges to Lake Reba Stormwater Facility); only one stormwater sample analyzed.
WalkerCreek sampling locations include:
1. near the 176th Street overpass; and
2. at the 171st Street overpass.
Several samples were collected during each event. In total, eleven baseflow and 19 storm events/locations were analyzed. There were no exceedances of Washington State Surface Water Quality Standards.
Dissolved Oxygen (DO)/Deicing Reports prepared for the Port of Seattle:
Dissolved Oxygen Deicing Study, August 1999
1. Examining the Effects of Runway Deicing on Dissolved Oxygen in Receiving Waters: Results of the 1999-2000 Winter Season, Volume 1, November 2000.
2. Examining the Effects of Runway Deicing on Dissolved Oxygen in Receiving Waters: Results of the 1999-2000 Winter Season, Volume 2, January 2001.
The Port conducted two seasons of monitoring the effects of deicers on DO. The reports showed that the DO levels in Lake Reba Stormwater Facility fluctuated during storm events, but could not conclude that the fluctuations were a result of deicing operations.
Master Plan Update for Improvements at the Seattle-TacomaInternationalAirport, Biological Assessment, June 2000.
Includes habitat assessments in Miller and WalkerCreeks.
Fact Sheet for NPDES Permit WA-002465-1; Facility Name: Sea-TacInternationalAirport; Washington Department of Ecology
(Ecology).
This Fact Sheet was prepared by Ecology as background information to develop/issue the Port’s revised NPDES permit. The report summarizes monitoring data that has been submitted as a requirement of the NPDES permit, and describes drainage infrastructure stormwater BMPs.
King County Stormwater Sampling
KingCounty sampled stormwater at 17 locations within the Miller and WalkerCreekBasins during four storm events between 1991
and 1993. These samples were analyzed for conventional water quality parameters, bacteria, and total metals.
- Metals (Copper and Zinc): During the time that the samples were taken, the Washington Surface Water Standards for toxic
metals were based on total metal concentration. This standard has subsequently changed to being based on the dissolved fraction. Results, using total metal standards in effect at the time, showed exceedances in most samples, with particularly high metal concentrations at locations in Miller Creek north of SR518, adjacent to SR509 at S 136th Street, and at Ambaum Pond.
- Turbidity, total suspended solids (TSS), and bacteria (fecal coliform): Turbidity and TSS were relatively low for stormwater.
Fecal coliform bacteria exceeded the surface water standard (100 colonies per 100 ml) in all instances.
- King County Sediment Sampling
Sediment samples were taken at eight locations throughout the basin. Samples were analyzed for semivolatile organics, oil and
grease, total petroleum hydrocarbons, pesticides/herbicides, PCBs, and metals. Results for all constituents were low and did not
indicate problems.
Southwest Suburban Sewer District
Southwest Suburban routinely monitors instream water quality adjacent to the treatment plant located on Miller Creek. Routine monitoring includes analysis for Dissolved Oxygen (DO), temperature, pH, and Fecal Coliform bacteria. Fecal Coliform bacteria counts exceed the standard consistently, even at baseflow, and are the highest during storm events. DO and temperature have exceeded the standards during summer months. pH is within an acceptable range.
USGS Pesticide Sampling
United States Geologic Service (USGS). USGS studied several urban streams in the Puget Sound region for the presence of
pesticides. Miller Creek was one of the urban streams sampled. Three stormwater samples were tested for the presence of
pesticides in 1998.
Six pesticides were detected in Miller Creek: Atrizine, Matolachlor, Prometon, Carbaryl, Diazinon, and Malathion. Both
Carbaryl and Diazinon exceeded the recommended chronic toxicity criteria. Atrazine and Malathion did not exceed the
recommended toxicity criteria. No aquatic toxicity criteria were available for Metolachlor or Prometon. The effects of pesticides in
very low concentrations to aquatic organisms is not well understood. Several studies have indicated that low levels of pesticides may have sub-lethal behavioral effects. It is also speculated that low levels of pesticides may contribute to prespawn mortality observed in coho utilizing the streams.
Toxicity (bioassay) testing was not performed for Miller Creek. However, toxicity testing was performed for Lyon Creek, a
tributary to Lake Washington located in southern SnohomishCounty and LakeForest Park; it showed chronic toxicity to
Ceriodaphnia dubia and Selenastrum capricornuntum. The toxicity could not be directly attributed to the pesticides. Lyon
Creek had similar pesticide concentrations to those detected in Miller Creek.
Whereas most of the pesticides detected are available for residential use, Atrazine has little or no retail sales in KingCounty
according to a 1997 survey of pesticide sales. This indicates that this Atrazine may be applied in non-residential uses such as rights-of-
way areas.
DOE Water Quality Monitoring Station 09D070
The Department of Ecology sampled near the mouth of Miller Creek in 2004 (and again in 2006). This non-storm event sampling indicated exceedances above the standard for Fecal Coliform bacteria. Based on this data, Miller Creek was listed as water quality impaired for Fecal Coliform. Metal concentrations did not exceed the standards.
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